With COVID cases continuing a roller-coaster trajectory and people tentatively trying to find a new normal of social interactions, it goes without saying; the last couple of years have been rough. But while we have all grappled with the pandemic from a health standpoint, the Asian American community has also experienced a significant uptick in physical violence and racially motivated attacks. This surge in racism and assault has left many Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) living in fear.  

Last fall, the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods opened a fund to support organizations, community groups, and individuals who stepped up to help communities in the Chinatown International District (CID) feel safe. We knew the AAPI communities impacted in our area should lead this effort, so we reached out to CID residents to discover who was stepping up to help support them and increase safety in their neighborhood and who they thought should receive this funding.

Nearly 100 residents participated in our survey, and we received 45 nominations for people, businesses, and community organizations who contributed to making the CID feel safe over the last year. From this community feedback, 19 small grants were awarded to support the continued service to the community.  

Over the next few weeks, a handful of those recipients will be highlighted here and on our social media platforms. We are excited to share their stories in partnership with Stacy Nguyen Creative who is writing pieces and creating graphics and reels to honor these meaningful efforts.